After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission Victoria invested heavily in a radically new communications network. After suffering some inevitable delays due to the war, radio VL3AA switched into full operation in October 1945 proudly beaming out 200 watts across the State. But by today’s standards, the technology was primitive and the reception poor unless the user was on a high point somewhere. The radio signal was "line-of-sight" and bounced between fire towers and relay transmitters across the mountains back to the District offices. The advent of solid-state electronics in the 1960s replaced the more delicate valve sets which enabled greater use of vehicle mounted radios. The Commission continued to research, develop and build new radios at its many workshops around Victoria. The network was supported by a large team of skilled radio technicians. The more secure and versatile State Mobile Radio (SMR) digital trunk system came into operation in about 1995. Upgraded Tait Radios were purchased in 2014 after recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. But it was the convergence of separate technologies such as 5G mobile phones, high-capacity and light-weight lithium batteries, Wi-Fi, the ever-expanding internet, cloud data storage, digital cameras, GPS, personal organisers and hundreds of supporting Apps into powerful smartphones and tablets which revolutionised bushfire communications from the mid-2000s. Radio transciever.Type 7515bushfire, radios, forests commission victoria (fcv)

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .08 - 1975 building. View along bay St towards the Bay also shows part of ANZ Bank on left, Riall Bros on right. built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria, general motors-holden, gmh

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. The street frontage has been remodeledCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .05 - remodeled 1942 building with cars at front built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. This note outlines land purchase costa and building costsCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .03 - 1886 document built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891.COPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .04 - 1914 bank staff built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .07 1975 building built environment - commercial, business and traders, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940s and new verandah and ground floor entrance completed 1981/82COPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .11 - 1982 building with cars and remodeled entrance and full width verandahbuilt environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .10 - 1980 building with car built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

The State Savings Bank building was constructed c1891. Remodeled in the 1940sCOPYRIGHT Public records Office Victoria .09 - 1978 building with cars built environment - commercial, business and traders, transport - motor vehicles, state savings bank of victoria

AAP 7831.016-3 M (Issue 2)